Author Topic: Rear view mirrors  (Read 1334 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline RafM

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jun 2019
  • Location: UK
  • Posts: 129
Rear view mirrors
« on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 03:27:31 AM »

I have a pair of Sebring bullet type mirrors on my car and they are absolutely useless.

Does anyone have any personal recommendations for a mirror with a stalk that
has a better range of adjustment.

Thanks, Raf.

Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,737
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #1 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 04:42:46 AM »
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352898857633

For the passenger door, you have to file the ring to get the mirror to a 45' angle, which takes about 1 minute with a round file.

Offline gideon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Dec 2017
  • Location: Northern NJ
  • Posts: 553
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #2 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 08:32:14 AM »
The mirrors in that ebay link look like they are patterned on the Vitaloni Californian - which looks good on the Europa, in my opinion.

(example image borrowed from treasuredmotorcars.com)

Offline gideon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Dec 2017
  • Location: Northern NJ
  • Posts: 553
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #3 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 08:38:13 AM »
Alex - did you get convex mirrors or flat mirrors?  And, if you got the flat mirrors, are you satisfied with the viewing angles?
« Last Edit: Monday,July 25, 2022, 09:10:43 AM by gideon »

Offline jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,980
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #4 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 09:12:29 AM »
I use modern racing mirrors.  They are convex and on stalks.  Set up so I can just see the side of the car if I move my head to the side, I have no blind spots.


Offline 4129R

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: May 2014
  • Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, not far from Hethel the home of Lotus.
  • Posts: 2,737
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #5 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 10:04:31 AM »
Alex - did you get convex mirrors or flat mirrors?  And, if you got the flat mirrors, are you satisfied with the viewing angles?

Flat mirrors. The passenger side needs the plastic ring where the mirror and spring attach filed outwards so you can angle the mirror 45'. Very easy to do. Those mirrors are easy to fit, light and good quality, and good value when compared with the chrome ones.

There are different types of chrome ones. I had to change them on my GT40 as the originals would not move to the right position, and could not be filed to move them outwards. 

Offline SilverBeast

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Location: Yeadon,West Yorkshire,UK
  • Posts: 710
  • 1974 Twin Cam Special
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #6 on: Monday,July 25, 2022, 01:27:32 PM »
I got a set similar to Alex from Ebay, without the blue tint. Mine turned out to be slightly convex and are just about right. I didn't need to modify mine, probably because they are convex.

They don't cover the existing mounting holes, though.

Offline JR73

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Apr 2018
  • Location: Merseyside, UK
  • Posts: 307
  • Banks Europa S2
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #7 on: Thursday,July 28, 2022, 04:07:15 PM »
Another vote for the Vitaloni California style, careful positioning and a decent view can be had in both mirrors - I didn’t have to modify mine.

Offline Lotuswins

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Joined: Dec 2017
  • Location: Roseburg, OR
  • Posts: 83
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #8 on: Thursday,July 28, 2022, 05:42:28 PM »
They look great JR. 

Any trouble with them staying up?  I've seen reviews saying that they don't stay, but will pivot down due to insufficient locking or friction with the screw that locks them in place.  Where did you source yours? 

Jerry Rude - just installed bullet type, but not happy with view.
4005R

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,641
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #9 on: Thursday,July 28, 2022, 09:29:30 PM »
I have an NOS set of real Vitaloni Turbo's.
Somewhat more rectangular than the California's.
Problem is I need another set for the Alfa Spider.

Offline JR73

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Apr 2018
  • Location: Merseyside, UK
  • Posts: 307
  • Banks Europa S2
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #10 on: Friday,July 29, 2022, 02:02:56 AM »
They look great JR. 

Any trouble with them staying up?  I've seen reviews saying that they don't stay, but will pivot down due to insufficient locking or friction with the screw that locks them in place.  Where did you source yours? 


Not had a problem with them staying in place, there is a small tab that acts as a friction washer between the base and the main body - it’s only small and easily dropped/lost/overlooked when the pivot bolt is removed for whatever reason, this may be something to do with the ‘performance issues’ (!) that others have experienced as the bolt can feel like it’s gripping enough to hold them in place if the tab has fallen out.

Mine came from Banks but I couldn’t actually tell you if they are genuine or copies, couldn’t even tell you what I paid for them 20 odd years ago now - the copies I’ve seen for far less money look pretty good tbh.

Offline Kendo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Location: Northern California
  • Posts: 635
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #11 on: Friday,July 29, 2022, 07:06:53 AM »
I had one on the drivers side. But I could never get it to stay in place. So replaced it with Talbot clones with convex mirrors. Both sides are usable

Offline SilverBeast

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Location: Yeadon,West Yorkshire,UK
  • Posts: 710
  • 1974 Twin Cam Special
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #12 on: Friday,July 29, 2022, 09:40:38 AM »
I'm not sure if mine will stay in position,  but was planning on fitting a star washer between the metal plate and the mirror arm to give it a bit more 'bite' if it does slip.

Offline Kendo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Jul 2015
  • Location: Northern California
  • Posts: 635
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #13 on: Friday,July 29, 2022, 09:51:22 AM »
Mine was plastic. Does that mean it was a cheap knockoff? (Just so whoever goes looking for one knows what to look for)

Offline SilverBeast

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Joined: Aug 2019
  • Location: Yeadon,West Yorkshire,UK
  • Posts: 710
  • 1974 Twin Cam Special
Re: Rear view mirrors
« Reply #14 on: Friday,July 29, 2022, 10:07:15 AM »
Mine's from Ebay. The mirror arm/housing is plastic. The foot is metal. The metal plate I mentioned is effectively half a washer, where the other half extends straight down as a rectangular extension where the width is the diameter of the washer. It is just held against the arm by tightening it against the plastic using a screw that passes throught the arm into the base, so the arm pivots on it. Because the plate fits into the base it stops it rotating. I'll try and take a picture of how it goes together later......